Hand puppet with fingertip controlled illuminable nose



y 1962 s. SCHWARTZ 3,034,258

HAND PUPPET WITH FINGERTIP CONTRGLLED ILLUMINABLE NOSE Filed Oct. 28,1960 ATTUE/VEY-S York Filed Oct. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 65,790 10 Claims.(Cl. 46-228) This invention relates to illuminable toys and. moreparticularly is directed to hand puppets having a fingertip controlledbattery operated illuminable nose.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve hand puppetsof the character described each comprising a molded hollow head'and ashirt waist body of pliable material into which the manipulators handfits with his fingers extending into the head and arms to cause thepuppet to perform, by incorporating therein a dry cell battery operatedilluminable nose under control of a conveniently located finger tipactuated switch and having an accessible battery receptacle carriedwithin the shirt waist, which shall have relatively few and simple partsreadily assembled by a minimum of unskilled labor in low cost quantityproduction to form a reliable and dependable puppet capable ofwithstanding rought handling and use, which shall be neat and attractivein appearance and constructed to facilitate maintenance and replacementof parts by children using the toy and which shall be practical andefiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention willin part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction here'- inafter disclosed, the scope ofthe'application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which an illustrative embodiment of theinvention is shown:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a hand puppet havingan illuminable nose constructed to embody the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line22 in FIG. 1 showing the interior construction of the puppet and theassembly of the novel illuminable nose, finger tip control switch andbattery holder.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded detail view of the illuminable nose andfinger tip control switch and the battery holder shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2showing details of the combination lamp holder and switch member, and aFIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, denotes a toy hand puppetconstructed to embody the invention and featuring an illuminable nose 11affixed to a molded hollow head 12 having a neck 12a and shoulderportion 12b to which is suitably attached, as by staples 120, a shirtwaist 13 of pliable sheet material.

Shirt waist 13 may be made of any textile fabric or of pliable plasticsheet material such as vinyl which may be formed with heat sealed seams13a to have a body portion 131; and a pair of arms 13c.

Illuminable nose 11 is seen from FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to include acombination lamp holder and switch member 14 which may be molded of asuitable plasticresin, such as polystyrene, to comprise a tubularportion 14:: having an annular flange 14b extending about a midportionthereof and an integral U-shaped resilient switch portion 14c extendingradially from one end thereof. Between I States atent O 3,@34,25$Patented May 15, 1982 flange 14band switch portion 14c, tubular portion14a is provided with a pair of slots 14d arranged on opposite sidesthereof and as is clear from FIG. 4 are slightly offset from each othera distance suificient to conform to the pitch of the threads in base 15aof a standard miniature electric lamp 15. A U-shaped spring wire clip 19engages slots 14d serving both as an electric contact and lamp basethread coacting means.

Combination lamp holder and switch member 14 may be permanently securedin position in a nose opening 12d formed in head .12 and sized toreceive tubular portion 14a with annular flange 14b located against theinterior rim thereof. Collar 14!: fits the end of tubular portion 14aextending through opening 12d and may be suitably secured theretoagainst the exterior rim of opening 12d as by cement joint I. Collar14:: also serves as a snapon holder for a removable lamp cover 14g andhas an undercut groove 14 into which bead 14h of lamp cover 14gremovably snaps. Lamp cover 14g may be molded of a suitable plastichaving translucent properties and colored as desired to blend with theface of the puppet.

A feature of the invention is the simplicity ofthe circuit wiring andswitch whereby soldered connections are obviated orreduced to a minimumand the parts assembled with minimum labor costs. To this end lamp 15may be powered by a single dry cell penlite type battery 16 which issupported in circuit with lamp 15 in battery holder 17 seen in FIG. 2 tobe attached to the front of shirt waist 13 where it is readilyaccessible for battery replacement yet does not interfere with theperformance of the puppet.

Battery holder 17, collar 14s and lamp cover 14g may i all be molded ofa plastic resin similar to member 14. Battery holder 17 is seen in FIGS.2 and 3 as a unitary three sided box-like structure which is shown in apreferredform as skeletonized to save material. Thus the front side ofbattery holder 17 maybe reduced to two transverse strips 17asymmetrically spaced from opposite ends thereof and each formed with acentral opening 17b for receiving suitable securing means to shirt waist13, such'as eyelets 13d which are positioned along the vertical midlinethereof blending with the ornamental appearance of the puppet assimulated front buttons or snaps. The two sides of battery holder 17 maybe reduced to comprise a pair of longitudinal strips extending along therear edge and having forward extensions 17d joining the transversestrips 17a- The opposite ends of longitudinal strips 17c are joined byend strips 17e. Battery 16 is thus cradled by front transverse strips17a and side longitudinal strips 17c between top and bottom terminalsprings 18 which are secured in snap-on relation in seats 17 formed onthe exterior side of each end strip 17e. Strengthening webs 17g maybe'provided in each corner of holder 17 to rigidify and reinforce endstrips 17:: and the walls of seats 17 Elongated protuberances or ribs17h may be formed on the interior surfaces along a midportion of therear edges of longitudinal strips 170 to aid the snap-in retentionofbattery 16.

Terminal springs 18 may be formed of leaf spring metal and aresubstantially S-shaped to provide U-shaped mounting portions 18a whichresiliently engage in seats 17] and also serve to clamp stripped ends20a and 21a of lead wires 20 and 21, respectively, therein as is clearfrom FIG. 2. The free ends of mounting portions 1812 may be bent atright angles forming flanges 1817 which may be centrally notched at forlocating lead wires 20 and 21. The battery contact portions 18d ofsprings 18 may be formed with an embossed rib 18c. for strengthening andas a battery terminal contact. The opposite stripped end 20b of leadwire 20 is attached to the free end of switch portion 140 by eyelet 14engaging through-opening 1-4i formed therein. As is clear from FIG. 2eyelet 14j 7 which serves as a switch terminal is located in alignmentwith central terminal 15b of lamp 15 when the latter is properlypositioned in tubular portion 14a for make and break switch contacttherewith. Likewise the opposite stripped end 21b of the other lead wire21 is'elamped by the bent end 19a of wire clip 19 as is clear from FIG.5 to provide a permanent electrical connection from one side of battery16 to the base ferrule terminal of lamp 1S.

' This connection may also be soldered to insure against terminalsprings 18 are attached to battery holder 17 re tainingly clamping leadends a and 21a against the walls of seats 17a and also making electriccontact therewith. The wiring between member 14 and battery holder 17 isnow complete and the unit is ready for mounting in puppet 10. Member 14may now be inserted through the open bottom of shirt waist 13 into head12 and through opening 12d so that shoulder portion 12b abuts the rimthereof and switch portion preferably extends vertically and up-v wardlyas shown in FIG. 2. Member 14 is secured in this position by cementingcollar 14e thereon forming joint J. Battery holder '17 is now inposition in shirt waist 13 and may be secured thereto by rivetingeyelets 13d through openings 17b. Lamp 15 is then threaded into tubularportion 14a, being engaged by sections of spring Wire clip 19 whichproject-through slots 14d. Iiamp cover 14g may then be. snapped intoundercut groove 14 of collar 14a and battery 16 into holder 17 so.that'the opposite battery terminals flex battery contact portions 180!of springs 18 for gripping the battery therebetween. The insertion ofbattery 16 into holder 17 also outwardly flexes longitudinal strips 170to provide the necessary clearance for longitudinal protnberances17h,the latter thereafter serving to prevent accidental displacement ofbattery 16 from holder 17.

When incompatible plastics are used to form the. shirt waist 13 andholder 17, as inthe case of vinyl and polystyrene, a separating sheet 22may be interposed therebetween,

The practical utility of hand puppet 10 will now be apparent. Puppet 10is slipped onto the hand like a glove through the open bottom of shirtWaist 13 with at least one finger extending into each arm and head. Thefinger extending into head 12 is'placed to contact eyelet 141' so' thatslight forward pressure will flex switch portion 14c as shown in brokenlines in FIG. 2 closing the circuit to lamp 15. On release of fingerpressure, resilient switch portion 140 will return to normal opencircuit position. 7

To change lamp 15, lamp cover 14g is squeezed and pulled outwardly torelease bead 14h from engagement in grp ove 14f, lamp 15 is unscrewedand replaced and lamp cover 14g snapped back into position. Likewise,

by applying inward pressure between eyelets 13d, battery the aboveinvention, and as various changes mightv be' made in the embodiment.above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein setforth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent: p

l. A hand puppet toy having a hollow head and shirt waist body sized tofit the hand of a manipulator with at least one finger extending up intothe hollow head cavity, said head being formed with a nose opening, aminiature electric lamp and holder mounted in said nose opening, saidholder including a normally open resilient finger actuated switchextending within said head cavity for actuation to a closed circuitposition by pressure of said finger, a battery holder and dry cellbattery mounted on the interior-of said shirt waist body,-and electriclead wires interconnecting terminals of said battery with said lamp andswitch for energizing the lamp on the closing of the switch by saidfinger pressure.

2. The hand puppet 'toy defined in claim 1 in which said lamp has a baseferrule terminal and a center terminal, said lamp holder being an openended tubular shaped structure with one end on the exterior of said headand the opposite end in the interior of the head cavity, said tubularstructure having an axial bore sized to receive the base ferruleterminal of said lamp with the lamp extending from said exterior end andthecente'r terminal located at said interior end, said switch beingformed as a resilient U-shaped member extending from said tubularstructure and having a free end in alignment with said axial bore, aswitch contact carried by said free end normally 'spaced from saidcenter terminal, said free end being movable toward said center terminalon fiexure of said U-shaped member.

3. The hand puppet toy defined in claim 1 in which said lamp holder isan open ended tubular shaped structure having an axial bore with one endterminating on the exterior of'said head and the opposite end in theinterior of "the head cavity, a radial flange extending from amidportion of said tubular structure contacting an interior rim ofsaid'nose' opening, a collar securely mounted on said tubular structureon the exterior of the head abutting an exterior rim of said noseopening, said collar and radial flange coacting with the rim of saidnose opening to retain said tubular structure in said mounted position,said lamp having a base positioned in said bore with the lamp extendingfrom said exterior end of the tubular structure.

4. The hand puppet toy defined in claim 1 in which said lamp holder isan open ended tubular shaped structure having an axial bore with one endterminating on the exterior of said head and the opposite end in theinterior of the head cavity, said lamp having a base ferrule terminaland a center terminal, said axial bore being sized to receive the baseferrule terminal with the lamp extend mg from said exterior end and thecenter terminal located at said'interior' end, said switch being formedas a resilient U-shaped member extending from said tubular struc tureand having a free end in alignment with said axial bore, a switchcontact carried by said free end normally spaced from said centerterminal, said free end being movable toward said center terminal onfiexure of said U-shaped member to said closed circuit position, aradial flange extending from a midportion of said tubular structurecontacting an interior rim of said nose opening, a collar securelymounted on said tubular structure on the exterior of the head abuttingan exterior rim of said nose opening, said collar and radial flangecoacting with the rim of said nose opening to retain said tubularstructure in said mounted position, said collar having an undercutgroove, and a removable translucent lamp cover having a bead releasablyretained in said undercut groove;

5. The hand puppet toy defined in claim 1 in which said 'lamphas athreaded base ferrule terminal and a center terminal, said lamp holderbeing a molded plastic open ended tubular structure having an axial borewith 'onevjend terminating on the exterior of said head and the oppositeend in the interior of the head cavity, said axial bore being sized toreceive the base ferrule terminal of said lamp with the lamp extendingfrom said exterior end and the center terminal located at said interiorend, a midportion of said tubular structure within the head cavity beingformed with a pair of transverse slots communicating with said bore, aU-shaped electric current conducting clip having opposite arms lying insaid slots with portions thereof extending into said bore and engagingsaid threaded base ferrule serving as complementary internal threadmeans and as electric contacts.

6. The hand puppet toy defined in claim 1 in which said battery holderis a box-like structure having a front wall section, opposite side wallsections, opposite end wall sections and an open rear for insertion andremoval of said battery, the end wall sections each being formed with aseat, S-shaped terminal springs each having a battery contacting end anda U-shaped portion resiliently seated in one of said seats clampinglyretaining a stripped end of one of said electric lead wires therein andin electric contact therewith, said battery contacting ends extending inalignment into said box-like structure engaging opposite terminals ofsaid battery positioned to extend therebetween.

7. The hand puppet toy defined in claim 1 in which said battery holderis a molded plastic boxlike structure having a front wall section,opposite side wall sections, opposite end wall sections and an open rearfor insertion and removal of said battery, said front wall section beingformed with a pair of spaced openings, and a pair of eyelet rivetspassing through said openings and securing the battery holder to saidshirt waist body.

8. A hand puppet toy having a hollow head and shirt waist body sized tofit the hand of a manipulator with at least one finger extending up intothe hollow head cavity, said head being formed with a nose opening, amolded plastic open ended tubular shaped combination lamp holder andswitch mounted to extend through said nose opening and having an axialbore terminating at one end on the exterior of said head and at theother end in the interior of the head, a lamp having a base ferruleremovably mounted in said axial bore and a center terminal located atsaid interior bore end, an opening in a midportion of said holder withinsaid head cavity communicating with said bore, a terminal connectioncarried by said holder extending through said opening and makingelectrical contact with said base ferrule, said switch comprising aresilient U-shaped member extending from said tubular structure andhaving a free end in alignment with said axial bore, a switch contactcarried by said free end normally spaced from said center terminal, abattery holder and dry cell battery mounted on the interior of saidshirt waist body, electric lead wires interconnecting terminals of saidbattery with said terminal connection and said switch contact, saidU-shaped member free end being accessible to receive pressure by saidfinger for movement of said switch contact toward said center terminalfor closing the circuit and energizing the lamp.

9. The hand puppet toy defined in claim 8 in which said holder includesa radial flange extending from a midportion of said holder contacting aninterior rim of said nose opening, a collar securely mounted on saidholder on the exterior of the head abutting an exterior rim of said noseopening to secure said holder in position, said collar having anundercut groove, and a removable translucent lamp cover having a beadreleasably retained in said undercut groove.

10. A hand puppet toy having a hollow head and shirt waist body sized tofit the hand of a manipulator with at least one finger extending up intothe hollow head cavity, said head being formed with a nose opening, aminiature electric lamp and holder mounted in said nose opening, saidholder including a normally open resilient finger actuated switchextending within said head cavity for actuation to a closed circuitposition by pressure of said finger, a dry cell battery, a batteryholder of molded plastic formed as a box-like structure containing saidbattery having a front wall section, opposite side Wall sections,opposite end wall sections and an open rear for insertion of saidbattery, said front wall section being formed with a pair of spacedopenings, a pair of eyelet rivets passing through said openings andsecuring the battery holder to said shirt waist body, said end wallsections each being formed with a seat, S-shaped terminal springs eachhaving a battery contacting end and a U-shaped portion resilientlyseated in one of said seats, a pair of lead wires having stripped ends,each of said stripped ends being anchored in one of said seats by and inelectrical contact with one of said U-shaped spring portions, saidspring battery contact ends extending in alignment into said box-likestructure engaging opposite terminals of said battery positioned toextend therebetween, inwardly projecting aligned ribs formed on each ofsaid side Wall sections adjacent said open rear for contacting thecylindrical side of the battery as snap-in retention means therefor,opposite ends of said lead wires connecting with said lamp and switchfor energizing the lamp on the closing of the switch by said fingerpressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS844,577 Borchardt Feb. 19, 1907 1,110,100 Ambash et al. Sept. 8, 19142,814,158 Gelardin Nov. 26, 1957 2,818,463 Parker Dec. 31, 19572,886,623 Lehr May 12, 1959

